Anyone else notice that it seems to be a lot easier to make a convincing argument for Bitcoin now that BTC/USD is zooming, versus several weeks ago?

Same argument ... but getting a lot better reception.

That's why I think speculation and a price bubble will be 'good' for bitcoin in that it will bring it a lot of publicity. That should bring in people who will start trying to earn bitcoins, buy with bitcoins, etc. etc.

I think a big bubble would be bad for getting wide adoption as quickly as possible. Increased variance is an actual cost, and it is exaggerated in a lot of people's minds. Once it exceeds a certain threshold they write it off as gambling. I'm not saying that is correct thinking, but it's a really common psychology.

I think a big bubble would be bad for getting wide adoption as quickly as possible. Increased variance is an actual cost, and it is exaggerated in a lot of people's minds. Once it exceeds a certain threshold they write it off as gambling. I'm not saying that is correct thinking, but it's a really common psychology.

They may consider it gambling, but if the real estate bubble and the tech bubble demonstrate anything, it is that the population has a propensity to participate in speculation. I think it'll engage them.

Control to:trade/speculate freely, (semi|pseudo)anonymouslyprotect themselves against enormously powerful interestswork and live within a decentralized framework of commerce... much more

Also, control to:instantly lose all their bitcoin savings

There remain real limitations.

Control frightens many people; any powerful tool can be both liberating and dangerous. Firearms and speech are good examples. In fact, most currently prefer for someone else to be in control. Such people will defend centralized systems of control, despite the fact that those systems often work against the interests of normal people. The discussion cannot be rational, at least until people start becoming more comfortable with control (and responsibility) and start rejecting the standard scare tactics as outlined by the OP. This takes time and ongoing commitment (difficult, never-ending work) against strong opposition and concerted efforts in propaganda which amount to brainwashing.

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